North Carolina State legend Cozell McQueen has died at the age of 64.
McQueen, who was born in Paris and grew up in South Carolina, died on Wednesday but a cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
McQueen played for NC State between 1981 and 1985 and forged a reputation as a robust defender and rebounder.
But he’s most famous for being part of the ‘Cardiac Pack’ team that won the NCAA tournament in 1983.
Standing at 6-foot-11, McQueen showed his class by defending against Hakeem Olajuwon in the Wolfpack’s 54-52 win over the Houston Cougars in Albuquerque in the 1983 title game.
After that game McQueen stood on the rim and celebrated by holding a sign aloft that read ‘Pack Power’, which has become an iconic image.
North Carolina State legend and NCC tournament winner Cozell McQueen has died at 64
McQueen was part of the ‘Cardiac Pack’ team that won the NCAA tournament in 1983
That night, coach Jim Valvano’s Wolfpack secured the school’s second and most recent national title by beating the Cougars at the buzzer. That team was honored by then-President Obama at the White House in 2016.
Over the course of his four years at NC State, McQueen played 134 games for the Wolfpack, the fourth most in program history. He also started in 75 consecutive games, which is the ninth most in program history.
McQueen eventually made it to the NBA and was selected with the No. 91 pick in the fourth round of the 1985 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.
He also played for the Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers during his pro career, which spanned 10 seasons and also included stops in France, Italy and Spain.
